[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 199 (Wednesday, December 21, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H9913-H9914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF FRANCO HARRIS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the life of Franco Harris, a giant in the football community.
  Franco Harris committed his life to excellence. He ran for 12,000 
yards and won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers, giving 
hope and inspiration to a community.
  On Sunday, the Steelers were preparing to recognize Franco's 
contribution, 50 years after the play that is remembered as one of the 
greatest of all time, the ``Immaculate Reception.''
  To remember him only for his legacy on the field would be a 
disservice. Franco Harris was committed to servicing and supporting 
food banks, blood drives, and youth sports leagues that run throughout 
central and western Pennsylvania.
  Franco Harris loved the city of Pittsburgh, and he loved his alma 
mater of Penn State. He attended events throughout Pennsylvania, and he 
never gave the impression of being a Super Bowl MVP. He never gave the 
impression of being a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
  Franco Harris gave the impression of simply being a man from his 
community, a proud Penn Stater, and a proud member of the Pittsburgh 
Steelers Nation.
  Today, we remember the life of Franco Harris, and we wish that we had 
that opportunity to honor him in person on this Sunday.
  The success that Franco Harris brought to the Pittsburgh Steelers 
carried a fan base far and wide. The success allowed the entire United 
States to become in one gleaming moment a Steelers Nation.


                       Honoring the Apollo 8 Crew

  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, 54 years ago the Apollo 8 
crew lifted from Cape Kennedy, Florida, embarking on the first manned 
mission to circle the Moon.
  On Christmas Eve of that year, they would be the first to be pulled 
into lunar orbit. On that same day, they became the first three humans 
to cross to the far side of the Moon where no radio contact could be 
made with the Earth.
  These three men--Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders--would 
spend Christmas Eve unconnected from everyone that they loved.
  While no other will be as far away from home this Christmas as the 
Apollo 8 astronauts, there will still be millions of Americans who will 
be unable to spend Christmas with their loved ones.
  These will be the truck drivers on icy roads, the doctors and nurses 
working long shifts in snowed-in hospitals, police officers patrolling 
our streets, and men and women in uniform standing at far-away outposts 
serving to keep our Nation free and safe.
  We owe a debt of gratitude to those who are unable to be with their 
loved ones and their friends this Christmas.
  As you gather around your table and celebrate the birth of our Lord 
and Savior, Jesus Christ, please join me in saying a prayer for those 
who are unable to be at home this Christmas day.
  For those unable to see their children opening Christmas presents, 
for those unable to be with their grandchildren watching a train circle 
a Christmas tree, we are grateful for the work that they do.
  From all of us here at the United States Capitol, I extend a 
heartfelt thanks for those individuals for their work and for their 
commitment to our Nation.


          Thanking Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District

  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, as Congressional District 
lines shift in January, I am saddened by the fact that I will no longer 
have the honor of representing the Shanksville and Stoystown 
communities in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, the place where 40 heroes 
lost their lives while attempting to stop the September 11 terrorist 
attacks aboard United Flight 93.
  In the weeks that followed, I took my family to that crash site to 
pay our respects and to say a prayer for those who had given their 
lives to save other lives.
  The Shanksville and Stoystown communities have the burden and the

[[Page H9914]]

honor of keeping that legacy for those 40 heroes alive.
  National Park Service Director Steve Clark has done an incredible job 
to make the memorial a place of remembrance, and I look forward to 
continuing to work with him as he oversees the September 11th National 
Memorial Trail.
  The Flight 93 National Memorial is a fitting tribute to the 
passengers and crew who died on that September morning with the 
knowledge that their deaths would ultimately save others' lives.
  National Park Service Director Steve Clark and his entire team at the 
Flight 93 National Memorial have done an incredible job to maintain and 
preserve this site.
  On behalf of the individuals from Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional 
District, I say thank you for that service. I say thank you for 
preserving the memories of all those fallen heroes from the Flight 93 
National Memorial.

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